Qaboos bin Said Al Said (Arabic: قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد‎ Qābūs bin Saʿīd ʾĀl Saʿīd; born 18 November 1940[1]) is the Sultan of Oman and its dependencies. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'ididynasty[2] and the only sultan that Oman has had since its independence.

Qaboos acceded to the throne on 23 July 1970 following a successful coup against his father, with the aim of ending the country's isolation and using its oil revenue for modernization and development,[4] moving to Muscat. There he declared that the country would no longer be known as Muscat and Oman, but would change its name to "the Sultanate of Oman" in order to better reflect its political unity.

Oman has no system of checks and balances, and thus no separation of powers.[5] All power is concentrated in the sultan,[5] who is also chief of staff of the armed forces, Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Central Bank.[5] All legislation since 1970 has been promulgated through royal decrees, including the 1996 Basic Law.[5] The sultan appoints judges, and can grant pardons and commute sentences.[5] The sultan's authority is inviolable and the sultan expects total subordination to his will.[5]

In September 1995, he was involved in a car accident in Salalah just outside his palace, which claimed the life of one of his most prominent and influential ministers and his right-hand man, Qais Bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi.

Several protest leaders have been detained and released in rolling waves of arrests during the Arab Spring, and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country is high. While disgruntlement amongst the populace is obvious, the extreme dearth of foreign press coverage and lack of general press freedom there leaves it unclear as to whether the protesters want the sultan to leave, or simply want their government to function better. Beyond the recent protests, there is concern about succession in the country, as there is no heir apparent or any clear legislation on who may be the next Sultan.[6]

Qaboos officially keeps Oman neutral, having contacts and normal relations with Iran while being an ally of western states like the United Kingdom and the United States.

Oman has more normal relations with Iran than the other Persian Gulf states, and is careful to appear neutral and maintain a balance between the West and Iran.[7] As a result, Oman has often acted as an intermediary between the United States and Iran.[8][9]

Qaboos criticized the Arab nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser in private discussions with American officials which were released by Wikileaks. He said Nasser deliberately used inflammatory speeches and rhetoric to make his people stupid, and accused Nasser of having "set the region back", holding a position of "anti-everything". Qaboos concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood obtained support from the uneducated people.[10]

Qaboos is a Muslim of the Ibadi denomination, which has traditionally ruled Oman.[11] He has financed the construction or maintenance of a number of mosques, notably the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, as well as the holy places of other religions.

Unlike the heads of other Persian Gulf states, Qaboos has not publicly named an heir. Article 6 of the constitution says the royal family should choose a new sultan within three days of the position falling vacant. If the royal family council fails to agree, a letter containing a name penned by sultan Qaboos should be opened in the presence of a defense council of military and security officials, supreme court chiefs, and heads of the two quasi-parliamentary advisory assemblies.[12] Analysts see the rules as an elaborate means of sultan Qaboos securing his choice for successor without causing controversy by making it public during his lifetime.[12]

Qaboos has no children; there are other male members of the Omani royal family including several paternal uncles and their families. Using primogeniture, the successor to Qaboos would appear to be the children of his late uncle, Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, Oman's first prime minister before the sultan took over the position himself.[13] Oman watchers believe the top contenders to succeed Qaboos are three of Tariq's sons: Assad bin Tariq Al Said, the personal representative of the Sultan; Shihab bin Tariq, a retired naval commander; and Haytham bin Tariq, the Minister of Heritage and National Culture.[12][14] First Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said, a distant cousin of the Sultan, and Taimur bin Assad, the son of Assad bin Taimur, are also mentioned as potential candidates.[12]

Qaboos bin Said is an avid fan and promoter of classical music. His 120-member orchestra has a high reputation in the Middle East. The orchestra consists entirely of young Omanis who, since 1986, audition as children and grow up as members of the symphonic ensemble. They play locally and travel abroad with the sultan.[15]Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin was commissioned to compose a work entitled Symphonic Impressions of Oman[16] and the Sultan is particularly enthusiastic about the pipe organ.[17] The Royal Opera House Muscat features the largest mobile pipe organ in the world, which has three specially made organ stops, named the "Royal Solo" in his honour.[18] He was also a patron of local folk musician Salim Rashid Suri, making him a cultural consultant, in which role Suri wrote songs praising the Sultan and his family.[19]

The Sultan's birthday, 18 November, is celebrated as Oman's national holiday. The first day of his reign, 23 July, is celebrated as Renaissance Day.

On 22 March 1976, Qaboos bin Said married his cousin, Kamila, née Sayyidah Nawwal bint Tariq Al-Said (born 1951), daughter of Sayyid Tariq bin Taymur Al-Said. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979.[20] She remarried in 2005. Qaboos bin Said is rumoured to be behind the recent purchase of former England national team captain John Terry's Surrey mansion.

The achievements he has made to Sultanate of Oman over the past four decades provided a lot of benefits to the Omani people. He has been able to bring up the Sultanate of Oman to the standard of modern and most secured countries. Furthermore, he improved the living standards in Oman by building up a distinct educational system, health care centers, modern infrastructure, and economy. The Sultan is distinguished with his wide relationship with other countries in addition to, his concern of the environment issues, and dissemination of culture and knowledge, throughout the Arab, Islamic and other world.

As a leader, he is humble but confidant in his direction; he has determination to be great, and has wisdom and clear vision of the future of the Sultanate of Oman's people. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, communicates with Omani people and enjoys listening to their views and suggestions on any matter of concern to the nation and its citizens during the royal tours which are held annually. His Majesty also encourages youth projects related to the environment, language, literature, arts and history by providing several prizes for people, companies and institutions' participation on such contests. Indeed, Sultan Qaboos is a cultured man who cares and appreciates his country and Omanis are truly blessed to have him.

^Though Ibadhis are the majority in Oman, with Sunnis a minority, exact percentages are unavailable; 75% for the Ibadhis is often cited, while the Sunnis, followed by a small amount of local Shiites and foreign Hindus, Christians, and others make up the remaining 25%.[citation needed]